Nigel Evans denies rape and sex assault

Pictured is MP Nigel Evans arriving at Preston Crown Court ahead of his ongoing trial for sexual assault and rape of several men

Published:16:11Thursday 27 March 2014

Former deputy speaker Nigel Evans entered the witness box today and told a jury that he had not raped or sexually assaulted anyone.

The 56-year-old is alleged to have sexually assaulted seven young men on various dates between 2002 and last year by using his “powerful” political influence to take advantage of them, often while drunk.

In his trial at Preston Crown Court he denies one rape, two indecent assaults, five sexual assaults and one attempted sexual assault.

His barrister, Peter Wright QC, asked him: “Have you sexually assaulted anyone in terms of the allegations set out here, Mr Evans?”

The MP replied: “No, Mr Wright.”

Mr Wright then asked: “Have you raped anyone?”

Evans repeated: “No, Mr Wright.”

The Swansea-born MP confirmed that he had no previous convictions and had not been arrested before these events.

Addressing the rape claim, Mr Wright said: “The principal allegation here that you face is having raped and sexually assaulted a young man. Did you have sexual contact with him?”

The MP said: “Yes, I did.”

The barrister continued: “Did you engage in sexual intercourse with him?”

Evans repeated: “Yes, I did.”

Mr Wright asked: “Was that in the bedroom of your house?”

Evans said: “Yes, it was in Pendleton.”

Mr Wright said: “In terms of that activity, was it with or without his consent?”

The MP said: “Absolutely with consent.”

Mr Wright went on: “And in terms of your belief to his consent, was there ever any indication that he was not consenting?”

Evans replied: “Absolutely not.”

The MP also denied to the jury that he committed two further sexual assaults against the rape complainant on the same night.

Evans agreed that he did have sex with one 22-year-old man he is said to have raped.

Mr Wright continued: “Was it with or without his consent?”

Evans replied: “Absolutely with consent.”

Mr Wright said he would begin by putting to the defendant a “general review of the nature of the case” against him.

The prosecutor asked him about the allegation that he sexually assaulted a bisexual young man on the sofa at his house in Pendleton, Lancashire, in July 2009.

Evans accepted that he made an “approach” and that he touched the complainant.

Mr Wright said: “Was the touching sexual?”

Evans replied: “It depends how you interpret that, if I may explain.

“I did get under the duvet or blanket and I did put my arm around him.

“We laid together for a while with my arm around him and his hand holding mine. When my hand started to move down, he slowly brushed it away.”

The MP said he held the young man before moving his hand down again.

Evans added: “That’s when he exploded and said ‘No’.”

The MP said his hand got no further downthan the top of the young man’s belt - though the complainant has told the jury that Evans fondled his penis.

Mr Wright continued: “Was there any further attempt to engage in sexual activity?”

Evans replied with a dismissive laugh: “Hah! No. Not only not on that night but never again.”

Mr Wright said he would deal with each allegation in detail later, but for now he wanted to “swiftly go through each individual case” from the beginning, charge by charge.

He asked the defendant if he had “any recollection” of putting his hand down the trousers of a young man in a Soho bar in 2003, the first charge.

Evans replied: “Absolutely none.”

Mr Wright asked again if he had any recollection of doing the same thing to another man in an incident at the Number 10 Bar of the Imperial Hotel in Blackpool, during the Conservative Party conference of 2003.

Evans replied again: “Absolutely not.”

The MP denied ever making a pass or trying to kiss the third alleged complainant.

He was then asked about the fifth charge - allegedly using his hand and “cupping” the genitals of a young man he had been introduced to at the House of Commons.

Mr Wright said: “Have you ever taken a man by the genitals in the Strangers Bar as a form of introduction, one to the other?”

Evans replied: “No. It’s as absurd as it sounds.”

The final accusation was put to him - that he made a pass at a young man in a kitchen area near his House of Commons office - which he also denied.